Fashion and nutrition merge to benefit food pantry

Two friends came up with a philanthropic project benefiting King’s Kupboard Food Pantry, putting fashion and nutrition in the spotlight Monday.

Patti Bailey, owner of Maggie Anne’s Boutique in Hillsdale, along with Hillsdale Community Health Center Dietician Denise Lovinger, put their heads together organizing a sold-out event highlighting National Nutrition Month.

Close to 100 women gathered at Olivia’s Chop House in Jonesville to support the effort while enjoying a nutritious meal, seeing spring fashions modeled up close and learning what Kings Kupboard does for Hillsdale’s needy.

Bailey, who was searching for a unique way to benefit a charity, said she approached Lovinger about doing a show for the hospital. Lovinger told her the real need was to help food pantries provide and educate area residents on finding healthy food.

“The goal is to nourish people in our country and people in our own county who are hurting,” Lovinger said.

Lovinger, with the aid of student dietician Colleen Hastings, provided a booth with handouts about healthier eating options, answering dietary questions from those interested. Handouts included food, nutrition and health tips from the American Dietetic Association.

Prior to the show, Lovinger shared how one in three people have Type 2 Diabetes and how heart disease is a leading disease in Hillsdale County.

“We live in an economically disadvantaged county and many of my patients go to Kings Kupboard to get food,” she said.

Pantry Director Kristin Lucas also provided a few facts about Kings Kupboard, noting that 928 different families come into the pantry for help. The pantry is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons serving 35 families per day and sometimes up to 80 or 90 on busy days.

“We spend $3,000 a month on food and also have food that is donated,” Lucas said. “We have volunteers from our church and the community. It’s an ecumenical food pantry and we’re always looking for volunteers.”

Table arrangements provided by Smith’s Flowers and the Plant Nook were on sale with proceeds going to Kings Kupboard. Milberry Lane provided topiaries, also for sale at the store in Hillsdale.

Bailey thanked fashion show consultant Sue Cervini for helping with fittings for the event. The show featured eight models, customers of Bailey’s store, who walked among the tables of ladies while they enjoyed a nutritious meal.

Spring fashions included bright colors, nautical themes and classic black and white patterns. Accessories, scarves, jewelry and purses were included show how to “spice up” wardrobes for spring and summer.

An added bonus to the event was a coupon Bailey calls the “10-10-10” coupon. Attendees were given a coupon to use in the store for 10 percent off their purchase. The coupon is good for 10 days after the event and 10 percent of the total amount of sales will be donated to King’s Kupboard.